Piper PA-28R-200 accident near Weslaco, Texas, July 11, 2013
On July 11, 2013 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-200, registered N5003S, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Weslaco, Texas (Mid-Valley Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot receiving instruction failed to compensate for the crosswind condition during landing, and the flight instructor's delayed corrective action.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 11, 2013 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Weslaco, Texas · Mid-Valley Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-200 · all PA-28R-200s on the register
- Registration
- N5003S · no longer on the register · serial 28R-35727
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor reported that the pilot receiving instruction was attempting to perform a soft field landing on runway 31 during the second landing of the flight. The flight instructor reported that the wind was from 160 degrees at 12 knots, gusting to 18 knots. During the landing flare, the airplane was “getting pushed” off centerline. The flight instructor informed the pilot receiving instruction to put in full power and do a go-around. The airplane’s nose wheel struck a light generator on the side of the runway causing the airplane to skid across the taxiway and into the grass, which resulted in substantial damage to the wing. The flight instructor reported that there was no malfunction or system failure of the airplane before the accident.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during approach (VFR go-around)
- Dragged wing/rotor/float/other during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Student pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 915 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 113 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 865 as pilot in command; 600 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 10, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 242 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 175 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 2, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 16,105 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 2013
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming I0360-CIC (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Praat Air Services INC
The flight
- Departed from: T65 Weslaco TX at 6:00 pm
- Destination: T65 Weslaco TX
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 31, 4,998 ft by 70 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 12 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 97°F (36°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.